Shoe-lace fastener



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA B. STOFIEL, OF NATRONA, AND CHARLES R. CUTHBERT, OF PITTSBURG,

` PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,546, dated April 30, 1889.

Application filed September 3, 1888. Serial No. 284,436. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that-we, IRA B. STOEIEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Natrona, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and CHARLES R. CUTHBEET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of shoefastenings in which the wedging or binding force of a tongue, lip, or finger serves to engage and hold the shoe-lace in the laced position without tying the shoe-lace; and the novelty consists in the improved construction, hereinafter fully described, andl particularly pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 of thedrawings is a view in perspective of one of our improved shoe-fastenings unapplied. Fig. 2 is a view of the fastening applied to a shoe, and Fig. 3 is a view showing the shoe-lace properly in engagement with the shoe-fastening on a shoe.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates a shoe of the style commonly termed a laced shoe.

B are the fastening-studs, and C designates the two eyelets usually provided above the two rows of fastening-studs.

D designates the shoe -lace, the ends of which are passed through the lower eyelets in the usual manner.

The fastening-studs B are arranged oppositely in pairs, as now commonly practicedin this class of shoe-fastenings, and the sections d d of the lace D are crossed or woven around the fastening studs in the usual manner adaptable to this class of shoe-fastenings, and afterward passed through the two eyelets C l C, and then brought into engagement with the shoe-fastenings F at each side the upper. These fastenings are provided with three securing-prongs, G H I, whichv are first passed through slits K K K, made in the shoe nearly in `linewith the eyelets C C and to the rear of one of them, said securing-pron gs being finally clinched to the shoe material to cause the fastenings to be held securely in place.

The fastenings F are preferably struck up from sheet metal by the use of dies, and are provided with a slit or opening, L, in their top portion, the material of the fastenings being so disposed in its manufacture as to form two lnearly sector-shaped portions, M N, the

lower one of which projects laterally beyond, the upper one, and is provided with an upwardly-projecting flange or lip, P, which engages and bites the shoe-lace when the ends of the latter are in place in the shoe-fastenings.

In operation the device is exceedingly simple, while its security is ample. `The sections d of the shoe-lace are first crossed to engage the fastening-studs, in the usual manner, are then passed through the two eyelets C C, and then drawn sufficiently tight, and their free ends are then forced into the slits or openings L of the fastenings, where they are engaged by the flanges or lips P, which bite or hold them and prevent them from slipping or becoming accidentally loose, thereby making the lace secure for any desirable length of time.

The laces can be quickly loosened without having to untie them, by simply pulling upon their free ends, so that the fastenings combine security with quickness of Vmanipulation in unfastening them.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A shoe-fastening provided with two sectorshaped portions, M N, disposed one above the other and separated by a slit or opening, L, the lower laterally-projecting portion, N, being provided with an upwardly-projecting flange or lip, P, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

Vitnesses:

JOHNS. KENNEDY, W. L CRAIG. 

